Page 28 of Just Like That

Thankfully Lark understood my sudden turn in conversation. Her hands tapped a rhythm on the smooth oak bar top. “Kate and Beckett spruced it up. We have no idea how long it had been hidden away, but it was forgotten for a long time.”

Sylvie’s brown eyes locked with mine in a soft, knowing look. “It’s amazing what you can uncover if you look beneath the surface.” She turned to the kids. “Okay, who’s hungry?”

By the timedinner was served, voices overlapped and my head was spinning. On the back patio of the farmhouse, two long tables were nestled under a wood pergola. More of JP’s siblings showed up. I was introduced to his oldest brother Abel, his wife, and their twins. Royal and his girlfriend, Veda, had arrived just in time to eat. Burgers and hot dogs were cooked on the grill, and after everyone had eaten, the kids took to chasing Tootie’s chickens in the yard.

Despite the feud everyone loved to talk about, Kings and Sullivans were intermixed at the tables, reaching over one another and generally having a relaxed and pleasant time.

I stood in awe on the outskirts, a quiet onlooker soaking it all in. I’d never been a part of a large family, let alone one as big as that one. From the corner of my eye, a huge rooster pecked at the grass.

“Watch out for that one,” Beckett called to me. He pointed a long skewer with a marshmallow at the tip in the rooster’s direction. “That one’s a son of a bitch.”

Kate’s laugh rang out, and they were folded into the conversation about the perfect marshmallow toastiness. Movement at the corner of the yard, near the driveway, caught my attention.

My heart pounded as I saw JP standing at the edge of the lawn. He was frowning, because of course he was, but he also looked a little lost. He was dressed in jeans and a fitted navy T-shirt. The fabric strained against his muscular chest and hung closely to his trim hips. My jaw went slack at the way he effortlessly pulled off the casual look.

In his hands was a pie box. His eyes scanned the crowd, but JP didn’t attempt to join the group. Instead, he clung to the outskirts, quietly observing and seemingly unsure of himself. It was jarring to see his cocky facade falter.

It dawned on me that he was an outsider amid his own family, and my heart ached for him.

Our eyes locked, and when the corner of his mouth lifted, my heart flopped over. His subtle shrug was enough to melt my insides to goo. I shook my head and hid my smile behind a sip of lemonade before starting off in his direction.

I stood in front of him and looked up. “Hi.”

His eyes flicked to my mouth and back up again. “Hi.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

His eyes narrowed. “I could ask you the same thing. It’smyfamily after all.”

I playfully shrugged and took an exaggerated sip of my drink. “I was invited. Were you?”

He chuckled. “Ouch.”

I leaned over to look through the clear plastic top of the box in his hands. “Cherry? Classic choice.”

He tsked. “Strawberry rhubarb. It’s MJ’s favorite.” He flicked his finger through the bottom strands of my long hair. “It also kind of looks like a certain strawberry blonde I know too.”

A flutter danced across my chest. It was surprising to hear that JP might be considerate after all.

Had he lost as much sleep as I had last night?

“Is Teddy having fun?” he asked as he watched the kids squeal across the far end of the lawn.

I laughed. “A ball. More kids showed up too. Apparently Penny was telling them about how a chicken named Henrietta and something called a Beakface had a little romance. There are new chicks in the henhouse. I think he’s half in love with Penny already.”

JP chuckled. “He needs to be careful with the wild ones. They’ll put you under a spell.”

His eyes glittered, and I wondered if hisspellreference was intentional after he’d called me a witch.

Unsure of what to say, I cleared my throat. Behind me, I heard Royal call out: “Look who decided to grace us with his presence!”

JP scoffed and shook his head. As he walked past me, he lowered his voice. “Wish me luck.”

I watched in awe as he sauntered up to the group. Gone was the unsure boy on the outskirts, and in his place stood a man full of swagger and confidence. He greeted his siblings and their spouses along with the rest of the Sullivans.

JP offered a polite nod to the Sullivans’ aunt Tootie, then bent down and placed a soft kiss on his aunt Bug’s cheek.

“Don’t wait around for us to start playing trumpets, sit down already.” Bug fussed with her napkin, but when he pulled back a chair to sit next to her, she smiled.

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